PORTLAND RSPCA’s animal shelter is nearing capacity, due to a combination of assisting other shelters and locally surrendered pets.

It’s a situation echoed at shelters across Victoria, and in Warrnambool the shelter is juggling pets as the number has climbed to the point where they have more dogs than kennels and are using stop-gap solutions to house the hounds. “We’re full,” said RSPCA Portland permanent parttime employee Patricia Stocks said. “We’re just about packed, it’s not so bad for dogs, but we’re very close” She said there had been a rise in the number of pets surrendered to the shelter with the arrival of kitten season. “Four kittens and one cat were surrendered just this morning,” Ms Stocks said.

The Portland shelter has also been accepting pets from overburdened shelters,likeWarrnambool, to help reduce their strain.

On Tuesday, the Portland animal shelter had about 30 dogs and more than 50 cats looking for new homes and, while adoptions increased in the lead up to Christmas, many are still expected to spend Christmas in the shelter.

Ms Stocks encouraged people to remember their existing pets over the holidays, as well.

The shelter will be open between 9am and 1pm on December 27, 28 and 29. and January 1, 2 and 3.

Usual opening times will be observed all other days except Christmas Day, when it will be closed.

Donations of cat and dog food, toys or blankets for bedding are always welcome at the shelter, or they may be dropped into the RSPCA bin at Daly’s Supa IGA supermarket.

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JUST a few of the dogs in the Portland RSPCA’s animal shelter this week.